Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has spoken candidly about a pivotal loss that reshaped her mindset and propelled her to new heights as a record-breaking athlete.
The two-time Olympic champion revealed that her defeat to former 400m hurdles world record holder Dalilah Muhammad at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar was a turning point in her career. Entering the competition with confidence but lacking full preparation, McLaughlin-Levrone ultimately finished second behind Muhammad, who set a new world record with a time of 52.16 seconds, while McLaughlin-Levrone clocked 52.23 seconds, the second-fastest time in history at the time.
Reflecting on that moment, she acknowledged how the loss ignited a new drive within her, crediting Muhammad for pushing her to become the best version of herself.
“I remember knowing I wasn’t ready for that moment and watching myself get so close yet so far. When I heard it was a world record, I was heartbroken. But looking back, I’m grateful for that loss because it woke me up,” McLaughlin-Levrone shared on the Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo podcast.
At the time, she admitted she sought validation through victory but later realized that the setback was instrumental in her growth.
Following the disappointment, McLaughlin-Levrone went on to break the 400m hurdles world record at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials and continued her dominance by setting new records at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the 2022 World Championships. After an injury setback in 2023, she made a triumphant return in 2024, breaking her own record at the U.S. Olympic Trials and again at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s journey highlights how adversity can serve as a catalyst for greatness, transforming a heartbreaking defeat into the foundation of an extraordinary career.